JOHANNESBURG, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Lesotho's armed forces denied attempting a coup against Prime Minister Thomas Thabane on Saturday, saying they had moved against police elements suspected of planning to arm a political faction, an army spokesman said.

"The situation has returned to normalcy ... the military has returned to their barracks," Major Ntlele Ntoi told Reuters. He added the Lesotho defence force "supports the democratically elected government of the day."